Roosevelt Park is a small city, about one square mile with 4,172 residents at the 2020 census. It sits between the City of Muskegon to the north and Norton Shores on its other three sides, so a lot here is often a short drive from rules that are quite different. Its fence rules are in Section 3.13 of the zoning ordinance, and the city has its own fence permit application.
Permit and fee
The ordinance requires a building permit to erect, construct or substantially rebuild a fence. "Substantially rebuild" means replacing more than half of it, changing its height, or changing its material within twelve months. Painting and like-for-like repairs don't count. The city's fence permit application lists a $35 fee, but the form isn't dated, so confirm the current amount. It asks for a site plan showing all property lines and any existing fences, and the city does a final compliance inspection. The form asks for 24 hours' notice to schedule inspections.
For comparison, HomeGuide's national guide lists fence permits at $40 to $150, and Angi lists $20 to $60. A $35 fee sits inside Angi's range.
No fences in the front yard
This is the rule that surprises people. The ordinance says a fence may not be erected between the front building line and the front lot line. In a typical residential lot that means no front-yard fence at all, not even a low picket. If you want to enclose a front yard, ask the zoning office what options exist before you buy anything.
Height and placement
- Height: 6 feet maximum, measured from the lowest existing grade next to the fence. Where the property line adjoins a non-residential district, the limit is 8 feet.
- On your property: no part of a fence may project past the owner's property line. A survey or marked corner pins are the safe way to know where that is.
- One fence per line: the ordinance allows a maximum of one fence per property line. If a neighbor's fence is already there, the permit applicant has to determine who owns it, by searching building permits or by mutual agreement.
- Finished side out: a fence with an unfinished side, such as a stockade fence, must face its finished side toward neighboring properties or the street.
- Materials: residential fences may be steel, iron, wood, masonry or another durable material. Barbed, razor and electrified wire are prohibited.
Corners and driveways
Section 3.16 keeps drivers' sightlines clear at intersections. Within a triangle measured 20 feet back along each street from the corner, nothing may sit between 3 and 8 feet above the street. A solid 6-foot fence would break that rule, so on a corner lot the fence has to stay out of the triangle. The excerpt we read doesn't spell out how the city treats a corner lot's second street side, so ask the zoning administrator how yours is classified.
What this means for a wood fence
A 6-foot wood privacy fence works in a back or side yard, with the good side facing outward and posts and rails on your side. Cedar and pressure-treated pine both fit the materials list. Our wood fence guide covers species, costs, and Michigan frost, and our cost guide covers pricing. HomeGuide puts a wood fence at $20 to $50 per linear foot installed.
Call MISS DIG before anyone digs. Michigan's MISS DIG system asks for notice at least 72 hours ahead. The installer normally handles it, but ask.
What to confirm
The ordinance posted on the city's site says it was adopted January 7, 2002, and the fence section is marked as revised in September 2003. The city's current online code is hosted on a site we couldn't read, so later amendments may exist. Before you order materials, ask the zoning office to confirm the height limits, the permit fee, and whether your lot needs anything extra. We refer you to an independent installer. We don't issue permits, and the installer's written quote should say who pulls the permit.
Nearby: Norton Shores, Muskegon Heights, and the county permit comparison.
Sources, checked October 26, 2026: City of Roosevelt Park Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 3.13 and 3.16 (posted PDF, adopted Jan. 7, 2002); City of Roosevelt Park Fence Permit Application; HomeGuide wood fence cost guide (Dec. 22, 2025); Angi fence installation cost guide (Oct. 13, 2026); MISS DIG (PA 174 of 2013); Wikipedia, Roosevelt Park, Michigan (2020 census).